An exploration
of Uganda!
New! This small
group safari with lodge accommodation is designed for all those who are
interested in seeing the key places of Uganda. It includes Wildlife, Birds,
Gorillas and Wild Chimpanzees! An exclusive safari within a reasonable budget!
It can also be combined and extended with additional trips to Rwanda, Murchison
Falls and Bulago Island (Lake Victoria).
- Min. 4 participants.
- Gorilla permits in Bwindi are guaranteed! For gorillas the min. age is 15 years.
- Extensions to Rwanda, Murchison Falls available from 2 participants and from 1 participant for Bulago Island.
- The Uganda Discovery will provide you excellent value for money. The Lodges will vary from luxury(****) to very comfortable(***) with adequate facilities and we have avoided the too expensive accommodations of Kampala and Bwindi. You will find a description of the Lodges in the daily programme by opening the itinerary.
- Luggage limit at 15kg per person. Avoid hard suitcases but use soft bags instead
The Tour Package includes: Airport transfers, lodge accommodation, all meals, plenty of mineral water, the services of a Driver-Guide, all park and entry fees, all activities as per programme: chimp trekking at Kibale, game drives at Mweya, boat trip on the Kazinga channel, visit of Kasenyi fishing village and salt works, nature walk in Kyambura in search of the chimps, game drives in Ishasha, gorilla trekking in Bwindi, boat trip on Lake Mburo, guided nature walk in the Park, Kampala visit. It excludes: Airline ticket, beverages, tips, visas and personal expenses.
- What to bring?
Money for your personal expenses (average of $150 p.p.), outfit with adapted colours for wildlife observation, good walking shoes, rain-gear, a few long-sleeve shirts, slippers, sweater for cool evenings, sun protection: hat, sunglasses, sun cream, video/photo camera, a 200 mm or longer telelens is very useful, reserve batteries, films (with a few high speed films 800/1600 ASA), binoculars if you have and a torch.
Duration : 11 Days
Travel styles : Small Group Safaris, Road Safaris, Lodge Safaris
Activities : Bird Watching, Chimpanzee Trekking, Cultural Activities, Gorilla Trekking, Guided Nature Walks & Hikes., Wildlife Viewing
Parks & places : Gorilla Parks of Uganda (Bwindi & Mgahinga), Kibale Forest National Park (KFNP), Kyambura - (QENP), Lake Mburo NP, Queen Elizabeth National Park
Itinerary
Day 1 : Arrival at Entebbe - Transfer to your Hotel in Entebbe.
Arrival at Entebbe International Airport.
Meet and greet at the Airport by your Magic Safaris guide. You will be transfered to your hotel in Entebbe. (D)
Entebbe is a city in Uganda with a population of approximately 90,500. It is located on the shore of Lake Victoria 40 Km from the capital city of Kampala. The name Entebbe derives from the Luganda phrase Entebbe za Mugala (‘Headquarters of Mugala’, head of lungfish clan) and thus literally means Headquarters- somewhat prescient, given that it would later serve as the British administrative capital of Uganda.
Entebbe’s potential was hinted at as early as 1879 by the French missionaries Father Lourdel and Brother Amans, who noted that ‘the port…is large and well sheltered…’ It became a British colonial administrative and commercial centre in 1893 when Sir Gerald Portal, a colonial Commissioner, used it as a base. It’s potential was first realized in 1896, with the arrival of a European steamship on L. Victoria-shipped from Scotland. The steamship was put in use when the railway from Mombasa reached Port Florence (Kisumu) in 1901, allowing the travelers to and from the coast to reach Entebbe directly by the combination of train and ferry. Within two years, Entebbe had replaced Kampala as the colonial administrative capital. By 1903, certainly, Entebbe had greater population of European residents than Kampala. By 1904, Entebbe boasted a hotel, the Equatorial, evidently the precursor of the present-day Lake Victoria Windsor…Entebbe served as administrative capital of Uganda upto 1962 when Kampala replaced it as the national capital.
Accommodation : Boma Guest House (**)
Day 2 : Entebbe - Mubende - Fort Portal- Kibale
After breakfast we drive to Fort Portal via Mubende. This is a long trip to Western Uganda with a break for a pic nic after Mubende. A stop is also foreseen at Fort Portal. After some shopping we will drive another hour to reach the Kibale area for an overnicht at Ndali Lodge. A visit to Uganda would not be complete without experiencing the stunning views and the special atmosphere of Ndali! (B-L-D).
Fort Portal is a small and attractive city. The fort was built between 1891 and 1893 and named after Sir Gerald Portal, the British Consul General of Zanzibar who arrived in Uganda in 1892 to formalise the protectorate of Uganda. He died of malaria a few months after the fort was completed.
Accommodation : mountains of the Moon (***)Activities : Bird Watching
Parks & places : Kibale Forest National Park (KFNP)
Day 3 : Kibale NP- Mweya (Queen Elizabeth NP)
After breakfast you leave for Kibale Forest NP renowned for the greatest variety and the highest concentration of primates in East-Africa. The visitors centre of Kanyanchu is 45 minutes away from Ndali lodge. At the visitors centre the rangers are ready to escort different groups of maximum 6 persons. They will brief you about your guided nature walk in the tropical forest in search of the wild chimpanzees. This is one of the great moments of your safari!
The rangers are very knowledgeable and will answer all your questions about the forest and the chimps. Jane Goodall Institute has been assisting Uganda Wildlife Authority with the training of the rangers. A pic-nic lunch is foreseen at Kanyanchu before heading to Mweya QENP via Fort Portal.
On your way to Mweya after leaving Fort Portal, you might have a good scenery of the Rwenzori Mountains. It's during the wet season that you will have the best chances to enjoy a clear view of the Rwenzories. On our way to Mweya you will pass Kasese town and stop at the equator for a traditional picture.
You will entrer Queen Elizabeth NP at the Kabatoro gate and have a short game drive on our way to Mweya Lodge which lies on a peninsula. You will enjoy during three nights one of the best Lodges of Uganda! (B-L-D)
The Rwenzori Mountains lie along the western border of Uganda and rise to a height of 5100 metres. They form a magnificent landscape of non-volcanic mountains, 120 kilometres long and 48 kilometres wide. The so-called Mountains of the Moon were formed from a single block during the creation of the western arm of the Great East African Rift Valley (Albertine Rift).
Accommodation : Mweya Safari Lodge (****)Activities : Chimpanzee Trekking
Parks & places : Kibale Forest National Park (KFNP), Queen Elizabeth National Park
Day 4 : Mweya (Queen Elizabeth NP)
The best time for game-viewing is early in the morning! You will take the channel track which runs parallel with the Kazinga Channel and we drive slowly towards the Katunguru gate. The channel track is particulrly rewarding with warthog, bushbuck, waterbuck and elephants. There are some chances in the morning hours to see the spotted hyena and leopard. We will cross the Mbarara-Kassese-Fort Portal road and drive to Kasenyi an area near to Lake George which is an interesting gameviewing area. The wetlands surrounding the lake are of international importance protected by the Ramsar Convention.
You visit the Uganda Kob Mating Ground which is a defined area specifically used by Uganda Kobs for challenging, enticing and mating. Adult rams defend a circle territory (30 meters diameter) and depending on the season the mating ground can have 20 and more of this small terrirories each defended by a male. Ewes enter the terrirories for mating and move freely between rams.
Watch the spectacular fights as kobs defend their territories, look for lions as well because the high concentration of kobs attracts their predators. After the game drive we also visit the fishing village and the salt works at Kasenyi village near to Lake George. Both sites are part of Queen Elizaberh NP and local communities can develop some of their activities. It will be an opportunity for your guide to explain the conservation policies and the relationship with the local communities. (Fishing is an important activity among the local residents.)
We continue our game drive and we take the Kasenyi track when returning to Mweya lodge for lunch. In the afternoon you will take the launch trip on the Kazinga Channel which many consider as a highlight of the safari. The launch trip takes 2 hours.
The Kazinga Channel is a natural channel of 36 km long between Lake George and Lake Edward. The launch trip is the most popular activity at Mweya. From the safe boat you can see elephants, hippo, nile crocodile and many water birds. The water birds are plentyful along the channel: African skimmers, African fish eagles, cormorants, saddle-billed storks, pelicans, etc. The Kazinga Channel divides Queen Elizabteth in a northern (Mweya) and a southern part (Maramagambo, Kyambura, Ishasha). Landscapes will be different. The northern part is an euphorbia savannah while the southern sector is a typical accacia savannah.
After the launch trip you will enjoy from your lodge the splendid views of the channel. Alternatively your driver guide will take you for a late afternoon game drive! (B-L-D)
Accommodation : Mweya Safari Lodge (****)Activities : Bird Watching, Wildlife Viewing
Parks & places : Queen Elizabeth National Park
Day 5 : Kyambura - Ishasha (Queen Elizabeth NP)
Early wake up because we need to drive to Kyambura WR, a one hour drive from Mweya. You will take the Channel track trying the last chance to see leopard. Kyambura lies in the southern sector of the park and we take the main road to Mbarara and cross the Kazinga Channel at Katunguru.
The Kyambura River, about 16 km long, flows into Kazinga Channel. On arrival, the rangers will lead us and we drive to the nearest point, where they (rangers) usually know the chimpanzeess are approximately located. The rangers will give you a briefing before descending into the depths of the gorge. The nature walk takes a few hours and lunch will be served at Kyambura fig tree campsite before heading to Ishasha.
Ishasha is about 3 hours away from Kyambura and you will have a short game drive on your way to the camp. You will spend two nights at Ishasha Wilderness Camp, the only fixed tented camp in this unspoilt remote southern sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park famous for it’s tree climbing lions. The first night at Ishasha is always the most impressive one for visitors. At night you might have a concert of black-and-white colobus monkeys, baboons, hyena, hippos and the roaring lions! (B-L-D)
Accommodation : Ishasha Wildernis Camp (****)Activities : Bird Watching, Chimpanzee Trekking, Wildlife Viewing
Parks & places : Kyambura - (QENP), Queen Elizabeth National Park
Day 6 : Ishasha (Queen Eliizabeth NP)
You will explore Ishasha, the southern sector of Queen Elizabeth considered by some experts as one of the most aluring game viewing area of East Africa. It's an off-the-beaten-track destination that you will surely enjoy.
We wake up early, of course, since this is the best time for observing nature. You start from the southern circuit in search of the elephants and we will drive over the plains of Ishasha in the open savannah. The southern circuit has usually large herds of buffalo, Uganda kob and topi. Near to the swamps of the southern circuit you might see even leopard. We continue and drive to the northern circuit which is the area near the main road known for its tree climbing lions. We look particularly at the many fig trees where lions like to stay. But we also visit the Uganda kob mating ground which is their prefered hunting area.
After an initial scouting expedition, we return to the camp for a lunch, we relax, observe the hippos and we take time for a shower or siesta in the shadow of the woods.
In the afternoon you will have another game drive and during the dry season we will drive you to the Edward's flats to see elephants, large herds of buffalo and different waterbids. Occasionaly we might find in this area the shoebill stork and by surprise some hunting lions.
We return late in the afternoon to enjoy the last moments of the day on the Ntungwe river. After diner we sit around the campfire and enjoy the nature sounds of the woods. (B-L-D)
Accommodation : Ishasha Wilderness Camp (****)Activities : Bird Watching, Wildlife Viewing
Parks & places : Queen Elizabeth National Park
Day 7 : Ishasha - Buhoma (Bwindi Impentrable NP)
This is your last game drive in Queen Elizabeth. If you have missed the lions the previous days it will be the last opportunity to try again. You will start again with the northern circuit and finish your game drive with the southern part.
When returning from the morning game drive you will enjoy you last moment in the wilderness. After lunch we depart to Bwindi a journey that can take a max. of 2 hours. We shall have a stop over at Kihihi for refueling and some shopping at the local stores. The Muzungu (the white visitors) are an attraction for the children of the village!
Bwindi is not far away and you will arrive at Buhoma in the afternoon. Bwindi has a unique rich and varied ecosystem and has lowland rainforest and afromontane forest. It's considered as one of the most unique and important forests of Africa. UNESCO declared it as a Natural World Heritage site for Humanity for his many values and because it is vital to the survival of many endangered species.
Buhoma Homestead has recently been upgraded with very comfortable chalets built on wooden platforms overlooking Bwindi's rainforest. Time for cool drink and to enjoy the sight and sounds of the rainforest. (B-L-D)
Accommodation : Buhoma Lodge (***)Activities : Bird Watching, Wildlife Viewing
Parks & places : Gorilla Parks of Uganda (Bwindi & Mgahinga), Queen Elizabeth National Park
Day 8 : Gorilla trekking - Bwindi Impenetrable NP
Bwindi Impenetrable NP is a natural world heritage site. Hikers will love it, with the gorilla excursion as a high point of your safari!
Gorilla trekking is unpredictable. It's difficult to foresee how many hours you will hike. The gorilla excursion can take from 2 up to 8 hours. Expect to walk along distance in steep and muddy conditions, sometimes with rain overhead, before you encounter any gorillas. A good physical condition is recommended. For conservation purposes, time spent with the gorillas is limited to one hour. A ranger will brief you on how to behave with the gorillas.
Once you are back from trekking before 5 pm, you can be intertained by orphans of the Buhoma village, with their traditional Bakiga dances. For participants who want to contribute to the orphans, we advise them to bring some used clothes or school pensils/pens. Second overnight at Buhoma (B-L-D)
The Bwindi orphans group was created in 1998 with the main objective of taking care of the orphans dwelling on the streets of Buhoma. The high aim of the organization is to provide education, teaching agriculture and handcraft skills, teaching basic hygiene and the importance of sanitation. Today there are more than 160 children from all ages.
Accommodation : Buhoma Lodge (***)Activities : Bird Watching, Cultural Activities, Gorilla Trekking
Parks & places : Gorilla Parks of Uganda (Bwindi & Mgahinga)
Day 9 : Bwindi - Kabale - Mbarara - Lake Mburo
After breakfast, we depart for Lake Mburo via Kabale, meandering driving along the Kigezi mountains. Kigezi mountains is another unique scenery for you to view during your trip. We stop at Kabale for lunch before continuing to Lake Mburo via Marara. The arrival is foreseen in the afternoon just on time to have the boat excursion on the lake. For bird lovers this will be the best place to see the African finfoot in Uganda! Overnight at the recently opened Mihingo Lodge that you will surely enjoy. (B-L-D)
Lake Mburo is part of a much larger ecosystem that includes Akagera NP (Rwanda),Tanzania's Ibanda and Rumanyika Game Reserve and rangeland areas north to the Katonga River (Uganda). This eco-system is different from the Albtine rift and explains why you will find here some animals that you have not seen in other parks like Impala, zebra and African Eland. This makes the Park very interesting to be visited.
Accommodation : Muhingo Lodge(****)Activities : Wildlife Viewing
Parks & places : Lake Mburo NP
Day 10 : Lake Mburo NP - Entebbe
After an early morning breakfast you will have a guided nature walk. A ranger guide takes you on foot to the bush. Lake Mburo is the only place in this part of Uganda where you can see zebra and Impala and it’s also the best place to see the African Eland, Africa’s largest antelope! You will arrive at Entebbe in the late afternoon. (B-L-D)
Today the Akagera-Lake Mburo ecosystem is fragmented and its wildlife populations are confined to small, disturbed enclaves. Akagera NP and Lake Mburo NP, which are surrounded by cattle ranches, have been both reduced. Uganda’s Katonga WR is also isolated by surrounding villages, and its wildlife populations have been virtually extirpated.
Accommodation : Boma Guest House (**)Activities : Bird Watching, Guided Nature Walks & Hikes., Wildlife Viewing
Parks & places : Lake Mburo NP
Day 11 : Kampala visit and Departure
A calm day with a flexible programme. Visit of Ngamba Island (Lake Victoria), chimpanzee sanctuary managed by Jane Goodall Institute. After lunch you will return to Kisubi. In the afternoon you can visit the Wildlife Education Centre (option) or have some relaxing moments on the shores of Lake Victoria. (B-L-D)
